Switch-frog.



M. S. GRAVES.

SWITCH FROG.

APPLICATION men APR.15. I916.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

LII

INVENTOR ATTORNEY LZZEMWM @fl UNITED TATE ATlEhlT FFTQE.

MARK S. GRAVES, OF NORTH YAKIMA, WASHINGTON.

SWITCH-FROG.

Application filed April 15, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK S. Gnnvns, a

citizen of the United States residing at.

North Yakima, in the county of Yakima and State of Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch- Frogs, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in switch frogs andmore particularly to an automatic frog.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a frog soconstructed as to prevent pounding and to provide a continuous surfacefor the wheels of the rolling stock.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an automaticswitch frog provided with swinging or pivoted blocks adapted to beoperated by the flange of the wheel of the rolling stock.

Another object of the invention is the con struction of a frog in such amanner as to prevent the accumulation of snow or other foreignsubstances which might interfere with the operation of the same.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the noveldetails of construction and arrangement of parts which will be moreclearly understood from the following description and drawings, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the frog, showing one covering plateremoved, and

Fig. 2 is a side view of the frog, parts he i11 broken away.

ltfy frog is equally well adapted for use with street or steam railwaysand in the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates ties or other suitablesupports for the tracks. My improvements comprise a base plate indicated at 2 which is adapted to be secured to the ties in any suitablemanner and said plate 2 is provided with openings provided to receivethe spikes 3 or other fastening means for securing the track 4 inposition. A frog point is indicated at 5 and may be secured to the plate2 in any suitable manner. The ends of the track 4 are cut away from thetread portion to a point substan tially midway of the webs, therebyforming an extension 6 and blocks 7 are pivotally connected to the endsof the rails i as is clearly shown by means of the bolts 8 which passthrough extensions 9 formed on the blocks 7 and through the tracks aSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4%, rear.

Serial No. 91,419.

and plate 2. The opposite ends of the block 7 are curved as shown at 10and the purpose of which will be presently described. The curved ends ofthe blocks engage the end of the switch point 5, as is more clearlyshown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Castings 11 are formed on the plate 2 or may be secured thereto in anysuitable man ner and the inner face of the castings are cut away, asindicated at 12, so as to receive the pivoted blocks 7 when swunginwardly. Springs 13 are secured to the casting in any well known mannerand are adapted to engage the face of the pivoted block 7. The springsnormally tend to force the pivoted block into engagement with the end ofthe frog point 5.

A covering plate 14 is adapted to be secured to each casting by means ofbolts 15 or other suitable fastening means and the covering plateexcludes dirt or other foreign :sfubstances from the working parts ofthe reg.

ai ing fully described the details of con struction it is thought thatthe operation and advantages of my frog will be clearly understood.Considerable ditliculty has been experienced in the past in that therolling stock while passing over the frogs would cause apounding therebydamaging the frog as well as the wheels of the rolling stock. It is theobject of my invention to overcome this pounding and to form acontinuous surface over which the wheels will pass. While passing overthe frog, the tread portion of the wheels will hold one of the blocks 7stationary and the flange of the wheel will force the other block 7 intothe space 12 formed in the casting 11. The blocks 7 being forcedinwardly will put the spring 13 under tension and when the flange of thewheel passes over the frog, the block will assume its original positionby the pressure of the spring thereon. By providing the curved ends ofthe blocks 7 it will be seen that the blocks will be operated by thewheels while the rolling stock is passing in either direction. It willbe further seen that I have provided a switch frog which may be easilyattached to any track and if parts should become broken they can beeasily replaced.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch frog comprising a base, rails receive the blocks, andsprings secured to the castings and engaging the pivoted blocks.

2. A switch frog comprising a base plate,

rails secured to the base, blocks pivotally connected to the rails,castings secured to the base, springs secured to the castings andengaging the pivoted blocks, and plates secured to the castings.

3. A switch frog comprising a base plate, rails secured to the base,blocks pivotally connected to the rails, castlngs secured to the baseand provided with cutout portions, springs secured to the castings andadapted to engage the pivoted blocks, and covering plates secured to thecastings.

' 4E. A switch frog including a base, housings mounted on said base,rails secured to the base, and blocks movably connected to said railsand positioned in said housings.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 5. A switch frog including abase, housings mounted on salcl base, rails engaging one end of saidhousings, springs placed in MARK S. GRAVES.

Witnesses E. L. GRAVES, G. A. MYERS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G.

